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The Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes are here, as the former MVP is more open than ever to changing his address.

Until he’s actually moved, however, it could be an interesting exercise trying to gauge what each team could — theoretically — offer the Bucks for the former champion.

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Some caveats here.

• The presumed logic of teams is included here. That means, for example, that teams will be more inclined to trade away their star forward, instead of star guard, as to create more roster symmetry.

• Roster spots matter. This isn’t the offseason, where teams can carry 20 players. Five-for-one trades are a no-go.

• The overall relinquished talent differs from team to team, especially if teams are deep. The Raptors, who have more depth and a plethora of picks, can offer more than, say, the Celtics, while still maintaining a competitive level. That has been taken into account.

Without further ado …

The deal: Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, and 2026 NOP pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims

The Bucks take on very little money, so the salary matching is incredibly smooth and straightforward. Atlanta retains Jalen Johnson and builds around him and Antetokounmpo, with Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels as the key components around them.

Milwaukee gets Porziņģis, two high-quality role players and a draft pick via New Orleans that will be extremely juicy.

Quality of offer: B-

Likelihood of a deal: 1/5

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The deal: Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott and literally every first-round pick the Celtics can possibly send out for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma

Boston just doesn’t have anything that could offer Milwaukee an avenue to a major rebuild, so more than likely, this would have to be a three-team deal. But we’re not doing that today. As a team-to-trade trade, this is the best the Celtics can offer, and it’s probably not enough.

The only immediate sweetener here is that Boston takes on the contract of Kyle Kuzma, who is not even remotely worth his salary.

Quality: C-

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Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, 2026 BKN first, 2027 NYK first, 2029 BKN first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Jericho Sims and Amir Coffey

Out with the old, in with the young. The Bucks get a massive rebuilding starter package, and the Nets accelerate their process for … absolutely no reason. But hey, that’s besides the point. We made it work!

Quality: B+

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: LaMelo Ball, Grant Williams, 2026 CHA first, 2028 CHA first and 2030 CHA first for Giannis Antetokounmpo

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One might think Ball should be off-limits, but he’s rarely available and lacks discipline, and Milwaukee would likely acknowledge the fact that it would need more to make it worth its while.

The picks are the real value here, with the hope of Ball becoming a more serious player. If he achieves that, then the Bucks walk away with a good haul.

Quality: B

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, 2026 CHI first, 2028 CHI first, 2030 CHI first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, and Amir Coffey

This immediately turns Chicago into a win-now team in the East, with a plethora of veterans at their disposal to make a run within the next two years. It also makes it more likely that both Coby White and Ayo Dosumnu re-sign in the summer.

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Milwaukee gets a wonderful prospect in Buzelis and a small army of unprotected picks to start over from scratch. The expiring contracts of Collins and Huerter provide the Bucks with significant cap relief in 2026.

Quality: B+

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: None

The Cavaliers are currently over the second apron. This means they cannot aggregate contracts, nor can they take a single dollar more back in return than they send out. Their most expensive contract ($46.3 million) simply isn’t enough.

Further complicating matters is the fact the Cavs are $22 million above the second apron and will need to shed at least that amount in order to legally aggregate contracts. The Bucks are $17.6 million below the first apron, meaning if they exceed that they also cannot take a single dollar more in return than what they would send out.

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Quality: N/A

Likelihood: N/A

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The deal: Cooper Flagg, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, and 2032 DAL first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, and Taurean Prince

The Bucks get the league’s most intriguing under-20 prospect, along with a group of role players who could, potentially, be moved individually down the line.

Dallas, obviously, adds Antetokounmpo to a core of Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, in the hopes of forming a ridiculously effective Big Three. It’s expensive, but it’d create much-needed buzz in Dallas.

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Quality: A-

Likelihood: 2/5

The deal: Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Jonas Valančiūnas, Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes, Julian Strawther for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

All right, so you might be wondering about the deal having no picks involved. Yes, that’s a problem for Denver seeing as it has no control of its future in that department. As such, the only real value here lies with Denver’s young players. Some are good, others are OK, and, ultimately, the Nuggets will have no chance of landing the Greek Freak. Sorry, Colorado!

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Quality: C-

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, 2026 DET first, 2028 DET first and 2030 DET first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

Detroit is in possession of all of its draft picks, so it can actually make a decent push for the former Finals MVP. But it’ll cost the Pistons multiple selections, and multiple prospects, which won’t be an easy thing to fork over.

For the Bucks, needless to say, this is a package that offers them a chance of attacking a rebuilding process. Let’s not make it more complicated than it is.

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Quality: A

Likelihood: 3/5

The deal: Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, 2026 GSW first, 2028 GSW first and a 2030 GSW first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

It’s a significant package the Warriors can send out, in large part due to the fact that they control their own future in terms of draft picks. Is it realistic? Probably not, but with the addition of two prospects in Kuminga and Podziemski, things at least get interesting.

Quality: B+

Likelihood: 3/5

The deal: Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, Tari Eason, 2027 PHX first and 2031 HOU first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Amir Coffey and Thanasis Antetokounmpo

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This is a haul for Milwaukee, to the point where you can even argue if Houston is leaning in too heavily. On the other hand, it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Having him paired with Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün would form the longest frontline in the league, which can only be a good thing for Houston’s championship equity.

Quality: A

Likelihood: 2/5

The deal: Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, 2026 IND first, 2028 IND first and 2030 IND first for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

This deal is heavily based on draft equity, as that’s the primary type of asset the Pacers have.

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For the Bucks, it’s a bit of a clean slate, and Siakam should be able to get moved elsewhere, presumably for more picks.

Quality: B+

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Kawhi Leonard, Kris Dunn and 2031 LAC first for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Nothing here makes sense. The Clips don’t have picks or young guys of note. While Leonard is awesome, he’s too old and makes no sense for Milwaukee.

Quality: F

Likelihood: 0/5

The deal: Technically, none.

LeBron James holds a player option, and his contract is frankly crucial in terms of salary-matching, so unless he’s willing to waive it to land in Milwaukee — and with respect to the fine state of Wisconsin, why would he? — this is a complete nonstarter.

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Quality: N/A

Likelihood: 0/5

The deal: Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, 2026 MEM first, 2028 MEM first, 2030 MEM first for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

This isn’t uninteresting for Milwaukee, as the Bucks get two young prospects and three picks, and can possibly rehab the trade value of Morant, only to flip him later. But there are just so many ifs in this scenario, which they will assuredly see as a negative.

Quality: B

Likelihood: 2/5

The deal: Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2030 MIA first and 2032 MIA first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

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It’s a mixture of a return for Milwaukee, which gets younger, boosts its asset trove and can look ahead. There are, however, much more intriguing deals out there. So while this may make sense for Miami, it’s another situation for Milwaukee entirely.

Quality: B

Likelihood: 3/5

The deal: Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham and Joan Beringer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims

Yes, you read that right. No picks. That isn’t because Minnesota can offer enough to get away with it. Rather, the Wolves don’t have control of their selections, which greatly complicates matters.

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Needless to say, Milwaukee will look at this offer and tell the Wolves that Anthony Edwards needs to be in play, or no deal. Honestly? That seems fair.

Quality: D

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Zion Williamson, Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, Kevon Looney, 2028 NOP first and 2030 NOP first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

It’s a bit of a moot point, because even if the Pelicans were able to acquire Antetokounmpo — which they won’t — who exactly are they going to pair him with?

For Milwaukee, this is mildly intriguing, but not enough to make it genuinely interested.

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Quality: C+

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: OG Anunoby and Josh Hart for Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Knicks can’t send out picks, as that would violate the Stepien rule, and they don’t have much in the form of young players. It’s the franchise that Antetokounmpo was rumored to be interested in, but making a trade work that Milwaukee would accept is exceedingly difficult.

Quality: C-

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Thomas Sorber, Ajay Mitchell, 2026 LAC first, 2026 UTA first and 2027 DEN first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

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The rich get richer, and Milwaukee gets a major influx of flexibility to aid its inevitable rebuild. If this feels unfair, it’s because it is. It’d be enormously fun, though.

Quality: A

Likelihood: 4/5

The deal: Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, Tristan Da Silva and 2031 ORL first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

There simply isn’t enough value here for Milwaukee to be even remotely interested, especially given that Orlando has very little draft equity left. Also, after Wagner’s injury in New York on Sunday, this makes even less sense.

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Quality: D

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, Jared McCain, Trendon Watford, 2028 LAC first and 2031 PHI first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

No. Just no. The inclusion of either Joel Embiid or George is necessary, and that means the Sixers will have to relinquish picks in order to pay Milwaukee to take on those deals.

The fact that they’re getting Antetokounmpo on top of that is, frankly, laughable.

Quality: D

Likelihood: 0/5

The deal: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Amir Coffey

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With no draft pick flexibility whatsoever, the Suns can only make an offer based on their young players, and there isn’t a clear-cut future star in that group. This deal is DOA.

Quality: F

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Jerami Grant, Deni Avdija, Matisse Thybulle, Scoot Henderson, and all of Milwaukee’s picks and swaps back for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

This is all about future control, which is what Portland can offer. The Blazers give back Milwaukee their picks, which allows the Bucks to dictate their own terms. Make no mistake, this is a far more attractive offer for the Bucks than the vast majority of deals presented.

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Quality: A

Likelihood: 4/5

The deal: Domantas Sabonis, Dennis Schröder, 2026 SAC first, 2028 SAC first and 2031 MIN first for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo

The Kings have control of many of their own selections, which is helpful. The inclusion of Sabonis is with the hope that the Bucks can pivot and move him in a new deal, fetching a solid return and thus double-dipping.

Quality: B-

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Carter Bryant, 2027 ATL first, 2029 SAS first and 2031 SAC pick swap for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Amir Coffey and Thanasis Antetokounmpo

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The Spurs do more than relinquish young talent and picks here — they also take on the contract of Kuzma, which is not considered attractive around the league. It’s a big pay for the Bucks, who reset their cap, regain draft equity and get three real future pieces in Castle, Vassell and Bryant.

Quality: A

Likelihood: 4/5

The deal: Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick, Collin Murray-Boyles, 2026 TOR first and 2028 TOR first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

Toronto can go in more ways here, as it has control of its draft picks, but here the Raptors relinquish depth to maintain draft equity. If Milwaukee wants more future flexibility, as opposed to veterans, Toronto can accommodate.

Quality: A

Likelihood: 3/5

The deal: Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh, 2026 LAL first, 2030 UTA first and 2032 UTA first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

This makes no sense, because where does Utah go from here? It works, and Milwaukee gets a solid package with future upside, plus whatever it can get for Markkanen, but this seems pointless.

Quality: B

Likelihood: 1/5

The deal: Khris Middleton, Alexandre Sarr, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, Cam Whitmore, 2030 WAS first and 2032 WAS first for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Amir Coffey

Wizards give up their future, more or less, for a former MVP who would have very little to do in Washington. It doesn’t make sense for them, but Milwaukee does replenish its cupboards.

Quality: B+

Likelihood: 1/5

Another major winner is leaving LIV Golf and rejoining the PGA Tour. Patrick Reed, 2018 Masters champion, will follow five-time major winner Brooks Koepka back to the PGA Tour. Several other former LIV players could be following him by 2027.

On Wednesday morning, Reed issued a statement which read, in part:

After careful thought and consideration, my family and I have decided that I will no longer compete on the LIV Golf Tour.

I am excited to announce that I am returning to the PGA TOUR as a past champion member for the 2027 season and am eligible to begin competing in PGA TOUR events later this year.

I will continue to compete and play as an Honorary Lifetime Member on the DP World Tour, which is something that I am truly honored and excited to do.

I’m a traditionalist at heart, and I was born to play on the PGA TOUR, which is where my story began with my wife, Justine.

Earlier this month, the PGA Tour announced its “Returning Member Program,” opening the door to certain players who had left the Tour to compete for LIV Golf, including Koepka. Reed, whose Masters win fell outside the program’s stipulations, was not eligible to return via that pathway, but will be able to pursue a different route back to the Tour. The deadline for the Returning Member Program is Feb. 2, and so far the other three players eligible for that pathway — Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cam Smith — have opted to remain with LIV.

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Reed is a nine-time PGA Tour winner, including that 2018 Masters victory, and recently won the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic. He’s currently ranked 29th in the Official World Golf Rankings thanks to his strong performances on the DP World Tour; LIV tournaments are not presently counted toward world rankings.

Per PGA Tour regulations, Reed is eligible to return to Tour competitions in August 2026. That would allow him to compete on the Tour’s fall schedule, as long as he doesn’t compete in any unauthorized — i.e. LIV Golf — events before then. Reed can also compete on the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) immediately; he currently ranks second in the DP’s Race to Dubai season-long competition. However, as a returning member, Reed will be ineligible to participate in the Tour’s player equity program until after the 2030 season.

Several other former LIV players have been reinstated and are working their way back to playing on the PGA Tour. Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford will be eligible to play on the Tour again as of Jan. 1, 2027. Kevin Na has been reinstated, but his start date remains uncertain.

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Koepka announced his return to the PGA Tour just before Christmas. Later this week, he’ll tee off for the first time as a returning PGA Tour member at the Farmers Insurance Open.

We are beyond the NBA season’s midway point, and the Milwaukee Bucks are 18-27, 12th place in the Eastern Conference, a few games from the final play-in tournament berth.

They have featured Giannis Antetokounmpo for 30 of those games, and the two-time league MVP has been incredible in them, averaging a 28-10-6 on 65/40/66 shooting splits. When he is on the court, they practically profile as a contender, outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per 100 possessions, excluding garbage time, according to Cleaning the Glass.

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How are the Bucks so bad? It’s a long story, actually, one that has stripped them of all other star talent and most of their tradable draft assets. Not gonna lie: It’s a sad story, and one that has had us wondering why in the world Antetokounmpo has not been traded … yet.

For starters, the Bucks are being outscored by 11.2 points per 100 possessions when Antetokounmpo is on the bench, looking more like the league’s worst team. They are 3-11 when Giannis has missed games entirely to a right calf injury and a left adductor strain.

Plus, “We’re not playing hard, not doing the right things,” Antetokounmpo said after last week’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “We’re not playing to win.”

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On Friday, Antetokounmpo suffered another injury to his right calf, which he thinks will keep him sidelined until the “end of February, beginning of March.” Things will get worse in Milwaukee, where Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma have taken the places of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Damian Lillard was even there in between. I told you it was a sad story.

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And on Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Bucks — previously resistant to a trade — “are starting to listen” to “aggressive offers” from “several teams” for Antetokounmpo, who is “ready for a new home,” and has been for the past nine months.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s trade deadline will pass on Feb. 5 and, despite reports of recent hope from other teams to the contrary, the likelier outcome may still be Antetokounmpo remaining a Buck throughout the remainder of the season, however gruesome it may get.

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As for beyond this season, well, do not expect Antetokounmpo to stay a Buck any longer.

“No way they run it back,” one league source said.

So, why not trade Antetokounmpo now? One theory floating around NBA circles: “You trade Luka, you’ll never work again.” In other words, look at what has become of Nico Harrison since he dealt Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Absent a trade request — and it is unclear from any reporting whether he indeed made such a demand — does Bucks general manager Jon Horst want to be The Guy Who Dealt Giannis Antetokounmpo, no matter the return? I wouldn’t want to be That Guy, either.

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Not until the last minute, anyway, and this summer essentially yields the last minute, as Antetokounmpo will be entering the final year of his contract in the 2026-27 campaign. He will have far more influence over his next destination the closer the end of his deal comes.

As Charania previously said, “I’ve spoken to about a dozen sources on and off for weeks. The tension that is in the air within that organization and within the front office and in that locker room is at an all-time high. There’s a splintering environment going on there.”

After all, it has been years since Antetokounmpo told The New York Times’ Tania Ganguli, “Winning a championship comes first. I don’t want to be 20 years on the same team and don’t win another championship.” The Bucks have failed to emerge from the first round of the playoffs in each season since, and it appears they could miss the postseason entirely.

It would only make sense that Antetokounmpo wants out. Only, “There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade,’” Antetokounmpo recently told The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “That’s not … in … my … nature.”

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Of course, even that he couched with the phrase, “As of today.”

They seemed to have reached a stalemate. Neither Antetokounmpo nor Horst want to alienate the fans in Milwaukee. But we have reached the boiling point. This team is not going to win another championship for the foreseeable future, and therefore the team is not providing Antetokounmpo with what he wants, which is the chance to contend again.

Then came Wednesday’s news: The Bucks are reportedly opening their eyes to a deal.

[Get more Bucks news: Milwaukee team feed]

None of this helps us solve the mystery of why Antetokounmpo has not already been traded. In fact, it only leads us back to that question. There is, of course, more reason to wait until the offseason for a deal, most of it having to do with the salary cap. The first and second spending aprons make it awfully difficult for rival teams to make maneuvers midseason.

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“Better in the summer,” said one source familiar with Milwaukee’s thinking. “More flexibility.”

Again: Look at what Harrison got for Dončić midway through the season. He obviously did not canvas the league for offers, or else he would have gotten something better than Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round draft pick. Wait until the summer, though, and the whole league would have moved heaven and earth for the opportunity to trade for Dončić.

The same may be true of Antetokounmpo, even at 31 years old. Even another calf injury “does not appear to be dissuading interested parties,” reported Substack’s Marc Stein.

But it is not easy to move heaven and earth midway through the season and still field a championship team around Antetokounmpo. He is, really, a non-shooter who uses more than a third of his team’s possessions. He needs a certain roster around him — mostly shooters everywhere, including the center position — to maximize his relentless attack.

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And he needs to be healthy.

There is an argument to be made that pulling off the Band-Aid now is what is best for the Bucks. Look at how quickly the Houston Rockets have bounced back since trading James Harden for a picks-heavy package in January 2021. Get the rebuild going as fast as you can.

Then again, Milwaukee will have a better idea of exactly what other teams can offer in the 2026 draft when this season is complete. The Atlanta Hawks, for example, own the better pick between the Bucks and the New Orleans Pelicans, and if that lands in the top four at season’s end, it may be the most valuable asset any team can trade for Antetokounmpo.

Whether that means Antetokounmpo will be dealt this season may have more to do with whether Horst wants the responsibility of being the one to trade him. What ever happened to fortune favoring the bold, then? The second apron. That’s what, I guess.

The NFL head coaching vacancies have gone from 10 to two as of Wednesday. The Cleveland Browns’ surprise hire of Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken was the latest in the coaching carousel spin.

Teams hunting for a new head coach are desperate to make the right hire who can turn things around quickly, whether it was DeMeco Ryans a few years ago with the Houston Texans or Super Bowl-bound Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots. Just about any situation can be turned around with the right hire at coach, along with some key personnel moves.

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These seven other teams hope they made the right move:

• Pittsburgh Steelers ➡️ Mike McCarthy

• Buffalo Bills ➡️ Joe Brady

• Baltimore Ravens ➡️ Jesse Minter

• New York Giants ➡️ John Harbaugh

• Atlanta Falcons ➡️ Kevin Stefanski

• Miami Dolphins ➡️ Jeff Hafley

• Tennessee Titans ➡️ Robert Saleh

The last teams waiting to fill their top spots: the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.

Here’s why I give the edge to the Raiders over the Cardinals in desirability:

2. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals lost 14 of their last 15 games. Injuries impacted their season, but not that much. It was simply a bad team. And what’s the main selling point? General manager Monti Ossenfort will stay, and in this era of GMs and coaches coming in a package deal, that might not be a positive. Kyler Murray’s time with Arizona seems to be over, and even if he returns, that’s not a great thing either. There’s no quarterback, the team’s best player is a tight end, the defense was bottom six in points and yards allowed, and the franchise has just one playoff appearance (a one-and-done loss) since the 2015 season. Maybe the possibility of drafting a quarterback third overall will be appealing, but it’s not like this is a great quarterback class. Arizona has been a dead-end job for many years, and there’s not much reason to believe that will change soon.

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1. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are a flailing organization. They hired the oldest coach in NFL history and traded for a 35-year-old quarterback last offseason just to go 3-14. There never seems to be any plan. The search for Pete Carroll’s replacement will be led by general manager John Spytek and limited owner Tom Brady, the latter of which was a great quarterback but has no track record of helping lead a coaching search. But he’s a big name, which is what team owner Mark Davis likes. The one selling point to the new coach would be having the first overall draft pick and a choice of quarterbacks to start fresh with. Brock Bowers is a great talent, Ashton Jeanty should be a good running back with a little help, and Maxx Crosby is either a fantastic defensive star or a prime trade piece. There are some things to like, but it’s the Raiders. Everyone knows how bad this franchise has been for decades.

We’re back hoops fans with another Yahoo Fantasy x Arena Club drop for Week 15. Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Slab Packs are a brand-new weekly drop featuring real, graded trading cards of the hottest fantasy performers in the NBA.

If you’re new to Arena Club, here’s the lowdown. Arena Club is the premier online marketplace for sports cards, giving collectors a way to rip packs virtually, buy and sell graded cards and track their entire collection — all in one place. Whether you’re in it for the hobby, the thrill or the chase, Arena Club brings the excitement directly to your screen.

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[Rip your exclusive Yahoo Fantasy + Arena Club slab pack here]

Each week, Arena Club curates real, graded NBA cards and builds two types of Yahoo Fantasy Slab Packs:

Every pack contains a graded card of an active NBA player — but the real treasure is the weekly Chase Cards, featuring some of the top fantasy basketball performers from the past week. These limited-edition hits can reach values up to 20x the cost of the pack.

Weekly NBA Slab Packs go live every Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET and remain available through Friday at 1 p.m. ET (or until they’re gone). It’s the ultimate mid-week boost for fantasy hoopers and collectors alike.

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To top it off, use promo code YAHOO at checkout for 20% off your first slab pack or card purchase on ArenaClub.com or the Arena Club app.

This Week’s Featured Players

Rip a slab pack today for a chance to pull one of the week’s biggest fantasy basketball stars:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

Last week, SGA went on a scoring binge with 40+ points in two games before cooling down over the weekend.

Tyrese Maxey, Sixers

A six-point effort to start this week may have cost Maxey a shot at the NBA scoring title. That’s just how close things are at the top with Luka Dončić and SGA. Maxey continues to offer a strong ceiling and even had eight steals in a game last week.

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Stephen Curry, Warriors

Steph is currently banged up, dealing with a knee injury. However, we saw some vintage Chef last week with a 38-point outburst against the Mavericks.

Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves

It’s been an injury-riddled season for Ant Man but the T-Wolves superstar can still fill it up when he’s on the court. Edwards was able to shake off the injury bug last week to drop 32+ points in two games.

Paolo Banchero, Magic

Orlando has been struggling going into Week 15 but Banchero has been strong for fantasy managers with 55 and 59 points in Yahoo High Score in the past two weeks, respectively.

Weekly Drops. Real Cards. Real Value. Real Thrill.

With new cards releasing every week based on real fantasy performance, the Yahoo Fantasy x Arena Club partnership delivers a constantly refreshing lineup of NBA stars — and the chase cards you’ll be talking about all season.

Don’t miss this week’s release.

Rip your slab pack, hit a chase card, and upgrade your collection today!

[Get your Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Slab Pack now]

Following yet another disappointing year marred by poor quarterback play, the Browns were once again in the market for a new head coach, one who would presumably fix those issues and lead the franchise back to prominence.

The team found their guy on Wednesday, reportedly hiring former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken over their own defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz as its next head coach.

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NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Schwartz had expected to be hired as Cleveland’s next head coach. Now, after being looked over for the job in favor of an outside candidate, Schwartz could be looking elsewhere, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.

When he received the news that the team would be hiring Monken, Schwartz “was visibly upset, said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back,” Pelissero reported.

The Browns reportedly do want to retain Schwartz as defensive coordinator under Monken, and he does remain under contract. That could make a desired departure more complicated, should the team deny the opportunity to interview for positions elsewhere.

Schwartz was initially hired as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2023 after spending the previous two seasons as a defensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans. Collectively, he has 32 years of experience in the NFL, including five seasons as a head coach with the Detroit Lions and a combined 17 years of experience as a defensive coordinator with the Titans, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and, of course, the Browns.

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[Get more Browns news: Cleveland team feed]

A head coaching job would have brought Schwartz full circle in his NFL career, having first entered the league as a personnel scout for the Browns at the age of 27. He served in the role from 1993 to 1995 before joining the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive assistant. Now, he could be looking for a fresh start outside of the city in which he started his NFL career.

While the team’s offensive struggles — particularly at quarterback — headlined the host of issues with the Browns organization, its defense continued to shine under Schwartz.

The team ranked 14th in points allowed, eighth in yards allowed and fifth in yards per play in 2025. Star defensive end Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23.0 sacks over 17 games, now almost a sure bet to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career. Both Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward made the Pro Bowl. Rookie Carson Schwesinger is a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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Simply put, there’s no shortage of talent for Schwartz to work with, should he remain on staff. But there are also plenty of defensive coordinator opportunities still on the table in what’s been a chaotic coaching carousel this offseason.

Among the teams actively interviewing candidates for a defensive coordinator (or in the market thanks to the coaching cycle) are the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.

There are also the two remaining head coach openings for the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals, which could force two more defensive coordinator positions open, depending on whether or not the current staff stays on under new leadership.

No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka has made it to the Australian Open semifinals where she’ll face No. 12 Elina Svitolina. Svitolina, who defeated American Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals, is ranked No. 12. If Sabalenka advances to the final, it will mark her fourth consecutive appearance in an Australian Open championship match.

The semifinal match between Sabalenka and Svitolina will begin at 3:30 a.m. ET and it will stream live on ESPN Unlimited and be broadcast on ESPN. Here’s what you need to know about the Sabalenka vs. Svitolina semifinal at the 2026 Australian Open.

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How to watch Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open:

Date: Thursday, Jan. 29

Time (estimated): 3:30 a.m. ET

Location: Rod Laver Arena

TV channel: ESPN, re-air at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, Fubo and more

When is the Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elina Svitolina match at the 2026 Australian Open?

The semifinal match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open will be on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elina Svitolina match start time:

The match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina starts at 3:30 a.m. ET. The match will be streaming live on ESPN Unlimited and will also be broadcast live on ESPN, and will re-air on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET.

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Australian Open channel:

In the U.S., the entire Australian Open tournament is streaming on ESPN+ for Unlimited subscribers. ESPN will broadcast the semifinals and final matches.

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open:

Where to watch the 2026 Australian Open without cable:

If you want to catch every match of the Australian Open and don’t currently subscribe to ESPN+, cable or a live TV streaming service, in Australia a majority of the action will be streaming free with ads on 9Now.

Don’t live in the land down under? Don’t worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to tennis coverage without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.

9Now. Plus it’s Engadget’s pick for the best premium VPN. ExpressVPN offers three tiers of subscriptions: The Basic Plan (starting at $3.49/month), the Advanced Plan (starting at $4.49/month) and the Pro Plan (starting at $7.49/month).

ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re nervous about trying a VPN.

Australian Open 2026 schedule:

All times Eastern

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Tuesday, January 27

• (Day 10) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.

• (Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 28

• (Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.

Thursday, January 29

• (Day 12) Women’s Semifinals: 3:00 a.m.

• (Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 8:00 p.m.

Friday, January 30

• (Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 3:30 a.m.

Saturday, January 31

• (Day 14) Women’s Final: 3:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 1

• (Day 15) Men’s Final: 3:30 a.m.

Who is playing in the 2026 Australian Open?

The top 10 seeded players for the singles draws are listed below.

Men’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026

1. Carlos Alcaraz

2. Jannik Sinner

3. Alexander Zverev

4. Novak Djokovic

5. Felix Auger-Aliassime

Women’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026

1. Aryna Sabalenka

2. Iga Swiatek

3. Amanda Anisimova

4. Coco Gauff

5. Elena Rybakina

Australian Open prize money:

For 2026, the men’s and women’s singles winners of the Australian Open each get $4,150,000, with the runner-up receiving $2,150,000 and Semi-finalists $1,250,000.

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More ways to watch the 2026 Australian Open:

February 22, 2026

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach and Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson isn’t happy about Bill Belichick reportedly being snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Johnson took issue with voters who held Spygate against Belichick, dropping some pretty massive revelations about how the Cowboys — and other NFL teams — operated during Johnson’s time as head coach.

Johnson specifically took issue with the argument that Spygate may have played a major role in Belichick not being elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Johnson said many teams engaged in the tactic back in his days as a coach, including his Cowboys.

Johnson even revealed some of the history behind the tactic, explaining he got the idea from former NFL player-turned-coach Howard Mudd. Johnson claimed Mudd gave the Cowboys the idea to tape the other team during practice. Johnson claimed the Cowboys didn’t get anything of value out of the tactic, and added that “many teams” tried it.

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If the NFL knew about that tactic at the time, it didn’t take action against any teams or coaches. That wasn’t the case in 2007, however, as Belichick’s New England Patriots came under fire for taping defensive signals from an unauthorized location during a September game against the New York Jets.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell determined the Patriots violated league rules with those tapes and fined Belichick $500,000 for his role in the tactic, which was later deemed “Spygate.” The Patriots were fined $250,000 and docked a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft as part of Goodell’s punishment.

While it’s unclear whether Spygate was the reason Belichick was reportedly not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, reports suggest it may have played a major role in that decision. One voter told ESPN that it was former Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian who suggested Belichick wait a year to be inducted due to the cheating scandal. Polian’s Colts were defeated by Belichick’s Patriots a number of times during New England’s dynasty.

Polian denied that report, saying he did not try to influence voters, adding that he voted for Belichick to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Polian later backtracked on that last claim, saying he actually wasn’t sure if he voted for Belichick.

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In an ironic twist, Mudd, the man who reportedly told Johnson about Spygate tactics, spent many years as an offensive line coach for Polian’s Colts. Mudd served in that role from 1998 to 2009, overlapping with the year Spygate took place.

It’s not the first time Johnson has spoken openly about videotaping opposing coaches. After Spygate broke, Johnson admitted it was a known tactic back in his coaching days. At the time, he maintained that he didn’t see the benefits in it, though.

Belichick’s snub isn’t official just yet, but that hasn’t stopped a number of prominent NFL voices and athletes from speaking out about the news. Patrick Mahomes, J.J. Watt and LeBron James, among many others, all took issue with the reported news, with James saying the decision was “impossible, egregious and quite frankly disrespectful.”

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Johnson offered a more harsh critique Tuesday evening, saying he would like to know the names of the “a**holes” who didn’t vote for Belichick, adding those voters were “too cowardly to identify themselves.”

Johnson doubled down on his assertion on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, saying he was still “shocked” about the news.

The 2026 NFL Draft is still several months away, but this is the ideal time of year to get caught up on the prospects who will make an impact on the fantasy football landscape for redraft and dynasty leagues.

With the main fantasy season complete, I’ve had time to go over game tape, collegiate production, interviews and more, in order to project what this incoming crop of rookies will become at the next level.

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We’ll get more precise athletic testing numbers to work with at the NFL Combine in late February, before eventually finding out how NFL front offices value this class when draft day arrives in April.

Consider this a starting point in the pre-draft process, while understanding that landing spots will have an important impact on the fantasy value of each player. Once we know which organization they’ll be joining, it reveals a larger part of the puzzle in terms of their opportunity, coaching, scheme and team culture.

For now, we’ll begin this series by focusing on the incoming quarterbacks who have the best chance to become fantasy relevant in the NFL.

Prospect Fantasy Outlooks

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A tier of his own

• Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Mendoza is alone at the top of this quarterback class and might even be the only passer selected in the first round of April’s draft. Unfortunately, that says more about the quality of this group as a whole, than it does about Mendoza.

The Heisman Trophy winner is coming off a magical year where he threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns while rushing for 276 yards and seven scores en route to a National Championship.

However, while he’s likely to be taken first overall by the Raiders, he’s not a dominant prospect who’s going to singlehandedly change the fortunes of a franchise.

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The 22-year-old has proven himself to be a good leader with excellent on-field awareness who displays the toughness needed to overcome adversity during games. He has a strong arm to make any throw, but it’s his touch passing that stands out. Though Mendoza has enough speed to scramble his way out of trouble and pick up yards on the ground, he’s not fast enough to be a meaningful runner in the pros.

He profiles as a long-term NFL starter, who will need the right environment around him to become a star.

Fantasy Outlook: Barring a surprising trade, all signs are pointing towards Mendoza becoming a member of the Raiders in April. 

As a pocket passer with some rushing ability, he has more than enough tools to be fantasy-friendly — even if the path to high-end production is unlikely for him at the next level. 

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Las Vegas has a pair of difference-makers on offense in TE Brock Bowers and RB Ashton Jeanty, who will form a nice core, but the front office needs to add significant talent at wide receiver and on the offensive line this offseason. 

Even so, Mendoza is likely to be undervalued in dynasty because he isn’t entering the league as an elite prospect. You can consider him a more mobile Jared Goff or a much better version of Ryan Tannehill.  

Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.05

Star in the making

• Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

It’s telling that we’re only on the second quarterback in this class and we’re already talking about potential Day 2 picks. That’s because after Mendoza, there really isn’t a clear cut second QB who’s emerged this year.

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Obviously, I’m approaching this with future fantasy production in mind, which makes Chambliss by far the most intriguing of the remaining passers. However, it’s worth noting that Chambliss is attempting to return to Ole Miss for a sixth year of eligibility. The NCAA initially denied his request, but he’s attempting to get that overturned in court.

Regardless, Chambliss is a true dual-threat option, who rushed for 527 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. His pocket presence is noticeable as he often buys time with his legs and makes plays on the move, including some quality throws on the run.

The 23-year-old is a confident thrower with a quick release and good accuracy. His 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame isn’t what most teams are looking for at the position, but he plays bigger than his size and is more than capable of developing into an NFL starter — whenever he enters the draft.

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Fantasy Outlook: Chambliss’ rushing ability alone makes him a player to target if he ends up being part of the 2026 draft class. 

As we know, even below-average passers with rushing upside can turn into fantasy-relevant starters and Chambliss has showcased more than adequate passing skills. 

There’s a little Russell Wilson to his game, but he profiles as a more talented Tyrod Taylor to me. Either way, he should be on your dynasty radar if his attempt to return to Ole Miss is eventually shut down. 

Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Mid-to-late second round (if he enters the draft).

Overrated college starters

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Simpson and Beck are household names after suiting up for storied programs and playing in plenty of big games, but that might lead to them being overvalued in fantasy.

Simpson seems to be the default No. 2 QB in the class for most people, after Dante Moore chose to return to college for another year. Whether Simpson is worthy of that honor remains to be seen.

The 23-year-old has underwhelming arm strength, accuracy concerns and sometimes his lack of decisiveness leads to negative plays. Simpson has the mobility to escape the pocket, but can get chaotic when trying to make plays off-script.

Meanwhile, Beck is an effortless thrower who’s accurate and makes confident decisions. But he had the benefit of outstanding protection and strong supporting cast this season, which maximized his output.

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Both players seem headed for backup jobs in the NFL, with a narrow path to becoming starters.

Fantasy Outlook: Draft capital in April will tell the story for whether Simpson and Beck will get a legitimate chance to start at the next level. I remain skeptical of them emerging as anything more than overqualified backups or injury-replacement, short-term starters. 

They also lack the speed required to be true rushing threats, which is another limiting factor for their fantasy potential. 

If you’re taking them in dynasty, just know that they might become roster cloggers — unless you’re holding them as one-injury away QB options in deep superflex formats. 

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Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Third round.

Intriguing upside

While Simpson and Beck are higher profile prospects, Allar and Daniels are far more interesting to me as developmental fantasy options in the pros.

That’s not to suggest Allar and Daniels don’t have their flaws. Allar had an up-and-down college career that provided him with lots of playing time prior to an injury-shortened final season due to a broken ankle.

Allar comes with ideal size and arm strength, but accuracy concerns loom. It’s also difficult to discern how much of his occasional struggles were the fault of a weaker receiving corps. While he’s not a dual-threat QB, he can add value on the ground.

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Daniels is a very confident passer who rarely seems rattled. He’s also very comfortable breaking the pocket and using his athleticism to make plays on the move or create big gains with his legs.

Bottom line, there is potential here for both players to begin their careers as backups but evolve into more with the right coaching.

Fantasy Outlook: Allar and Daniels flashed their talents in college and now the question is whether they can continue to build on that. 

Both players have exhibited the tools and traits needed to turn into starting quarterbacks in the NFL, but there is a long way to go before making that a reality. 

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While the rushing upside helps their causes, it will take more than that for them to become meaningful fantasy assets. 

For the time being, they are superflex stashes who should be available in the third round or later of your dynasty rookie drafts. Draft capital and landing spots will have a big impact on their outlooks, but I’ll be targeting these two in my leagues. 

Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Third-to-fourth round.

Backup bound 

We’re delving deeper into an already weak quarterback class, so keep your expectations in check from this point on.

Nussmeier is an old school pocket-passer who lacks ideal size and offers nothing as a runner. He also dealt with injuries this season which limited his output. The soon-to-be 24-year-old is mostly accurate in the short-to-intermediate ranges of the field, but sometimes gets himself in trouble with riskier throws.

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Klubnik doesn’t really have a high-end attribute to hang your hat on, which limits his ceiling. An average arm, accuracy issues and erratic scrambling is not a good starting point for an NFL prospect.

Fantasy Outlook: It’s impossible to deny the impact rushing stats have on a quarterbacks’ fantasy numbers. Nine of the top-12 fantasy QBs in 2025 rushed for at least 350 yards.

That really increases the degree of difficulty for a prospect like Nussmeier, in addition to some of his other shortcomings. 

While Klubnik might have another layer of rushing production to unlock in a new offense, his disappointing final season at Clemson was discouraging given the talent around him. 

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If forced to choose between these two, I’d take the younger Klubnik and hope that he can develop, but I don’t have a lot of faith in that occurring.

Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Fourth round or later.

Long-term projects

• Cole Payton, North Dakota State

This group of passers are true long shots to have fantasy value in the NFL, but they each flashed enough to warrant a mention here.

Pavia is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds, but he’s shown a willingness to do whatever it takes, including sacrificing his body when the play requires it. The 23-year-old has a strong enough arm to make the necessary throws, you just always have to wonder how much height could be a factor, especially with passes over the middle. His rushing production is hard to ignore though, with over 800 yards and at least seven touchdowns in each of his last three seasons.

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Payton is already garnering Taysom Hill comparisons due to his rushing ability (reached 600 yards and 13 rushing TDs in two of his last three campaigns). He’s a tank on the ground, but also appeared to be beating up on lesser competition during his time at North Dakota State. He’ll need a lot of work as a passer if he’s going to emerge as anything more than a gadget player in the pros.

Green is a true dual-threat QB who has the size (6-foot-6, 229 pounds) and tools to develop into something more. He was a big-play waiting to happen at Arkansas and that’ll almost surely entice a team enough to take him on Day 3.

Fantasy Outlook: I highlighted the importance of draft capital off the top because the truth is it’s rare for quarterback prospects who are selected outside of the first round to become long-term stars. 

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We all recall Tom Brady (sixth round) and Brock Purdy (seventh round), but those are outliers. There are far more quarterbacks drafted on Day 2 or Day 3 who get buried on depth charts or end up out of the league in a few years.  

Remember that when using a dynasty bench spot on someone from this final group, especially since they will likely require a year or two behind an established veteran before they are even close to being ready to start — if they ever get there.

Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Fourth round or later, but most likely future waiver wire adds.

Prospect Fantasy Outlooks

The Dallas Cowboys have a busy offseason ahead, with one of the biggest tasks being a contract extension for Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens.

Pickens’ redemption story in Dallas has been one that Cowboys fans would love to see continue in Big D for the foreseeable future. They aren’t the only ones who feel this way, as the Jones family has made it clear they’d like to bring Pickens back on a long-term extension. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was in Mobile, Alabama, this week for the Senior Bowl and talked about the Cowboys’ offseason and free agency coming up around the corner.

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“Obviously, there’s guys that we want to keep from last year,” Jones said. “Whether it’s George Pickens or it’s Javonte [Williams], those are all guys that play into the free agency picture.”

“We won’t get into any details right now,” Jones continued. “Certainly, we want George to be back here in Dallas, and we’ll go from there.”

While Jones refused to go into great detail about plans for Pickens, it’s clear Dallas wants him back in the fold after being named to his first Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro. There were plenty of question marks attached to Pickens when the Cowboys acquired him. This season in Dallas proved that he could stay focused on football and put all doubts to rest.

In his first season in Dallas, Pickens led the team with 93 receptions, 1,429 and 9 touchdowns, which were all career highs. Alongside fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb, catching passes from quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys produced one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Dallas ranked second in total yards (391.9) and seventh in points (27.7). They also finished second in the league in passing yards (266.3) per game.

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Dallas allowing Pickens to get away after the best season of his career would be shocking, even if they cannot come to terms on a new long-term deal. The Cowboys have the franchise tag in their back pocket and can use that as a way to buy more time in working out a new contract with Pickens if needed.